Of First Importance 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Robinson points out that one old recipe for rabbit started out with this injunction: "First catch the rabbit." Says Robinson: "The writer knew how to put first things first. That's what we do when we establish priorities -- we put the things that should be in first place in their proper order.

We must keep the Gospel at the center of our lives as Christians

I. Remember the Gospel vv. 1-2

In our passage this morning, Paul calls the Corinthians attention to the teaching of the Gospel, specifically in regards to the Resurrection of Jesus

This Gospel was Paul’s message: not morals, ethics, culture, self-help, rituals, prayers, or practices

The way to God is not through a set of behaviors, but by the work of Jesus Christ

By grace through faith, we receive the Gospel and it has effect:

In it, we find our standing before God and our foundation to stand in the world

By it, we are being saved

This is our certain justification before the throne of God the Father

This is our ongoing sanctification through the course of our earthly life

This our coming glorification into His presence for eternity

We have to hold on to the Gospel—otherwise, there is a serious danger

In what sense might a person believe, in vain?

It is to believe in such a way that we miss the full effect of the Gospel

It is a faith for eternal life in heaven without abundant life on earth

Beware the half-Gospel!

It is Christ crucified, but not raised

Its effects are tragic!

It is forgiveness without freedom

It is eternal life without abundance

It is heaven without holiness

We must remember that the Gospel carries the promise of a new life from a living Lord!

2 Corinthians 5:17

[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV)

Galatians 2:20

[20] I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (ESV)

II. Believe the Gospel vv. 3-8

This moves us to a slightly different question, then: What is the Gospel, after all?

The Gospel is not:

“I can go to heaven when I die”

“My sins are forgiven”

“I’ve got an opportunity for an abundant life on earth”

These are all implications of the Gospel, but the Gospel is:

Christ’s death for our sins

Christ’s burial

Christ’s resurrection from the grave

I want to make it clear: the facts of the Gospel are not secondary to its effects! If you do not believe the facts of the Gospel, you can never receive its benefits

Why then, should you believe the Gospel? Well, because I believe its witnesses:

The Scriptures bear witness to this: the Gospel is “in accord” with the testimony of God’s Word and is the fulfillment of Old Testament promise

Who are the human witnesses?

Peter- this is the apostle who abandoned Jesus before His crucifixion

The 12- at an initial meeting and then all together at a later time

500 brothers at one time

James- this is the brother of Jesus, who was notably opposed to Jesus earlier in His ministry

Paul, one born at the incorrect time; his participation in the Body of Christ is strikingly unlikely for any number of reasons. He was an enemy of Jesus who now believes

In some ways, I think we misunderstand what it means to believe!

These people don’t just merely acknowledge that the Good News is a thing that happened

They let it completely change their outlook. They believe it in such a way that it transforms their lives

This is the power of the Gospel: when people believe it, they stake themselves in it completely!

I believe in a physician when I put my case into that physician’s hands, and trust him to cure me. I believe in a lawyer when I leave my case in his hands, and trust him to plead for me. I believe in a banker when I put money into his hands, and allow him to keep it on my behalf.

I believe in my Saviour when I take Him to be my Saviour, when I put my helpless case into His hands, and trust Him to do what I cannot do for myself—save me from my sin. Have you done so?

III. Live the Gospel vv. 9-11

We see that this transformation is evidenced in Paul’s life

It transforms his character:

He was unworthy to be called an Apostle

He was a persecutor of the Church, even a persecutor of Christ

Now, He proclaims Christ and is fully commited to follow Jesus

It transforms his purpose:

Paul was always a hard worker and a faithful believer

Paul believed in God, believed the Scripture, and worked hard to obey the Law of God

Now, Paul’s focus is not on obedience to the letter of the Law, but to the message of the Gospel, received by grace

God’s grace working in Him works effectively in his life; this grace was not in vain! (see v. 2)

It transforms his message:

Paul has changed significantly:

In Judaism, he was a rock star, marked by his righteousness

In Christianity, he has become a second-tier player, identified as a rebel against the Lord who was brought in later

But, this message of grace from a risen Lord is the message of Jesus. It’s Good News

The Good News is not a call to obey God’s Law

The Good News is a call to receive God’s forgiveness through Jesus

This is the message that we have to receive, we have to live, and we have to proclaim!

300 Illustrations for Preachers Not Bothering to Read the Good News

The 2008 housing crisis devastated many homeowners, making their mortgages impossible to pay. When the FDIC took control of Indy Mac Bank, a California savings and loan institution, they took steps to help troubled homeowners by lowering interest rates and offering loan extensions up to 40 years. Only about half of the offers even received a reply. FDIC officials speculate that many of those receiving letters long ago stopped opening mortgage-related mail. If they are right, these homeowners never got the good news because they didn’t bother to read it. What a tragedy.

In sending Christ, God made an offer that seems too good to be true, yet there are those who have not accepted it. I wonder how many of them haven’t rejected the offer; they just haven’t heard it yet.

What about you?

-Have you believed the Gospel?

-Are you living the Gospel?

-Do you proclaim the Gospel?